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Farmers & Merchants Bank to Showcase 600-Pound "Tidal Wave" Sculpture at Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade

"As a longstanding steward of the environment, F&M believes it is our duty to ensure the long-term health and vitality of our oceans and coastlines," said Brian Bielicki, F&M Huntington Beach branch manager. "We are proud to work with the Surfrider Foundation to take a proactive stand against the scourge of beachside litter."

Created by local artists Hanna Cosner and Tierney Moses, the "Tidal Wave of Trash" sculpture is the result of Surfrider volunteer and Huntington Beach resident Andre Faubert's 30/30 experiment, in which he collected litter from the Huntington Beach coastline for one hour each day over the course of a month. The end result was nearly 600 pounds of garbage comprised of empty containers, abandoned plastic bottles and other rubbish.

The Tidal Wave of Trash's appearance is being made possible thanks to the generosity of F&M, a parade sponsor and longtime advocate of environmental awareness. Actively incorporating sustainable practices into its infrastructure, F&M's Customer Care Center employs innovative technologies, including modular walls that reduce landfill waste and raised floors to allow "under floor" airflow management.

"No city typifies the spirit of the California Coast more than Huntington Beach," said Tony Soriano, chairman of the Huntington Beach/Seal Beach chapter of the Surfrider Foundation. "Our goal for this project is to galvanize the community to take a proactive role in protecting and caring for our beautiful coastline and to safeguard the future of our oceans."

Currently in its 107^th year, the Huntington Beach Fourth of July Parade is the largest celebration of our nation's independence west of the Mississippi. This year, the city expects more than 150,000 attendees and will feature special guests from the local community, entertainment and sports world.

About Farmers & Merchants Bank

Founded in Long Beach in 1907 by C.J. Walker, Farmers & Merchants Bank has 22 branches in L.A. and Orange counties. The Bank specializes in commercial and small business banking along with business loan programs. Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach is a California state chartered bank with deposits insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (Member FDIC) and an Equal Housing Lender. For more information about F&M, please call the media contacts listed above or visit the website, www.fmb.com.

About Surfrider Foundation

The Surfrider Foundation is a non-profit grassroots organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of our world's oceans, waves and beaches. Founded in 1984 by a handful of visionary surfers in Malibu, California, the Surfrider Foundation now maintains over 50,000 members and 80 chapters worldwide.

HKA, Inc.
Robyn Williams
714-426-0444
robyn@hkamarcom.com